Decoded Democracy: today’s challenges in the cyber domain

Cyberattacks are becoming common, everyday incidents that countries have to deal with. In the last months we have perceived an intensified effect from such attacks on states, on their public and social institutions, as well as on private companies. The destruction caused by these actions is immense. In addition to these direct threats, we also face “soft attacks”, attacks against the reputation, trustworthiness, and common value of our countries and societies. The wider phenomenon of fake news production is part of this soft intrusion, making the democratically elected and governed European countries even more vulnerable.

The conference will outline the state of play of the different states by analysing their prevention and reaction capacities concerning both direct and indirect attacks. We will thereby offer a look at the different national cyber strategies of the EU and its Member States, the United States, and Israel. Moreover, this event will provide an opportunity to understand how the international community tries to protect itself from cyberattacks by using specific instruments of international law and norms (codes of conduct).